OpenAI has launched its text-to-video AI model, Sora, to ChatGPT Plus and Pro users, signalling a broader push into multimodal AI technologies. Initially limited to safety testers, Sora is now available as Sora Turbo at no additional cost, allowing users to create videos up to 20 seconds long in various resolutions and aspect ratios.
The move positions OpenAI to compete with similar tools from Meta, Google, and Stability AI. While the model is accessible in most regions, it remains unavailable in EU countries, the UK, and Switzerland due to regulatory considerations. OpenAI plans to introduce tailored pricing options for Sora next year.
The company emphasised safeguards against misuse, such as blocking harmful content like child exploitation and deepfake abuse. It also plans to gradually expand features, including uploads of people, as it enhances protections. Sora marks another step in OpenAI’s efforts to innovate responsibly in the AI space.
China has launched an anti-monopoly investigation into US chipmaker Nvidia, citing possible violations linked to its acquisition of Mellanox Technologies in 2020. The move is widely seen as retaliation against recent US restrictions on China’s semiconductor sector, including curbs on advanced chip exports.
Nvidia, which dominates China’s AI chip market, is accused of breaching conditions tied to the Mellanox deal, such as fair trade requirements and restrictions on bundling products. The probe comes amid heightened trade tensions, with Beijing encouraging local companies to avoid US chips and Washington tightening export controls on critical semiconductor technologies.
Analysts suggest the investigation is unlikely to significantly impact Nvidia in the near term, as its most advanced chips are already restricted from sale in China. However, the company faces growing competition from domestic firms like Huawei. China accounted for 17% of Nvidia’s revenue last year, down from 26% two years prior, as US-China tech conflicts continue to reshape the global semiconductor landscape.
Google’s DeepMind has introduced GenCast, a cutting-edge AI weather prediction model that outperforms the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts’ (ECMWF) ENS, widely regarded as the global leader in operational forecasting. A study in Nature highlighted GenCast’s superior accuracy, predicting weather more effectively 97.2% of the time during a comparative analysis of 2019 data.
Unlike earlier deterministic models, GenCast creates a complex probability distribution of potential weather scenarios by generating 50 or more forecasts per instance. This ensemble approach provides a nuanced understanding of weather trajectories, elevating predictive reliability.
Google is integrating GenCast into its platforms like Search and Maps, while also planning to make real-time and historical AI powered forecasts accessible for public and research use. With this advancement, the tech giant aims to revolutionise weather forecasting and its applications worldwide.
Congressman Jay Obernolte has called on federal energy regulators to prioritise co-located data centres directly connected to power plants. The move, he argues, is essential for advancing US AI capabilities while addressing energy demands and grid resilience.
The proposal comes amid debates over co-location’s potential impact on grid reliability. A recent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) decision rejected an Amazon-Talen Energy project in Pennsylvania, citing grid concerns. Obernolte urged FERC to expedite decisions on such projects to support US AI innovation.
Energy firms Talen and Constellation have challenged FERC’s recent rulings, highlighting the growing importance of energy policies in AI expansion.
Elon Musk’s social media platform X has introduced Aurora, an advanced image generation tool integrated into its Grok AI assistant. Aurora allows users to create photorealistic visuals and explore imaginative concepts. However, some users noted the tool briefly disappeared after its launch.
Aurora, accessible through X’s mobile and web apps, appears to have minimal content restrictions. It can generate images of public and copyrighted figures, though explicit and graphic content is reportedly limited. The tool is still in beta, with Musk promising rapid improvements. While Aurora excels in landscapes and still-life depictions, it struggles with more complex details, like human hands, a common challenge for AI-generated visuals.
The release follows X’s decision to make Grok free for all users, enabling broader access to AI-driven features. Meanwhile, Musk’s xAI team, which developed Aurora, recently secured $6B in funding and is working on further innovations, including Grok 3 and a standalone app.
UCLA is breaking new ground with an AI-developed comparative literature course set to launch in winter 2025. The class, covering literature from the Middle Ages to the 17th century, will feature a textbook, assignments, and teaching assistant (TA) resources generated by Kudu, an AI-powered platform founded by UCLA physics professor Alexander Kusenko. This initiative marks the first use of AI-generated materials in UCLA’s humanities division.
Professor Zrinka Stahuljak, who designed the course, collaborated with Kudu by providing lecture notes, PowerPoint slides, and videos from previous classes. The AI system produced the materials within three to four months, requiring just 20 hours of professor involvement. Kudu’s platform allows students to interact with course content through questions answered strictly within the provided material, ensuring focused and accurate responses.
By streamlining material creation, the approach frees up professors and TAs to engage more closely with students while maintaining consistency in course delivery. UCLA hopes this innovative method will enhance the learning experience and redefine education in the humanities.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has introduced principles for using AI in its operations, aiming to harness the technology’s benefits while protecting vulnerable populations. The guidelines, unveiled in late November, reflect the organisation’s cautious approach amid growing interest in generative AI, such as ChatGPT, across various sectors.
ICRC delegate Philippe Stoll emphasised the importance of ensuring AI tools are robust and reliable to avoid unintended harm in high-stakes humanitarian contexts. The ICRC defines AI broadly as systems that perform tasks requiring human-like cognition and reasoning, extending beyond popular large language models.
Guided by its core principles of humanity, neutrality, and independence, the ICRC prioritises data protection and insists that AI tools address real needs rather than seeking problems to solve. That approach stems from the risks posed by deploying technologies in regions poorly represented in AI training data, as highlighted by a 2022 cyberattack that exposed sensitive beneficiary information.
Collaboration with academia is central to the ICRC’s strategy. Partnerships like the Meditron project with Switzerland’s EPFL focus on AI for clinical decision-making and logistics. These initiatives aim to improve supply chain management and enhance field operations while aligning with the organisation’s principles.
Despite interest in AI’s potential, Stoll cautioned against using off-the-shelf tools unsuited to specific local challenges, underscoring the need for adaptability and responsible innovation in humanitarian work.
Jack Ma, co-founder of Alibaba, made a rare public appearance on Sunday, expressing optimism about the future of Ant Group, the fintech affiliate he also helped establish. Speaking at Ant’s 20th-anniversary celebration, Ma highlighted the transformative potential of AI, stating that the changes driven by AI in the next two decades will surpass current expectations. His remarks, reported by Chinese media outlet 36kr, marked a notable return to the spotlight following his retreat from public life amid regulatory challenges.
Reflecting on Ant Group’s turbulent journey, Ma acknowledged the value of criticism and encouragement in fostering the company’s growth. Ant, the operator of China’s leading mobile payment app Alipay, faced a regulatory crackdown after Ma’s public critique of Chinese regulators in 2020. This led to the cancellation of Ant’s $300 billion IPO, followed by a stringent overhaul of its operations to align with financial regulations. The reforms included Ma relinquishing control of the company in 2023.
Despite these challenges, Ant is charting a path forward, underscored by a leadership transition announced Sunday. President Cyril Han will succeed Eric Jing as CEO starting March 1, 2024. Ma’s renewed confidence in Ant’s potential, especially in the AI era, signals a fresh chapter for the fintech giant as it emerges from years of regulatory scrutiny.
X, owned by Elon Musk, is now offering its AI chatbot, Grok, for free. Users can send up to 10 prompts every two hours and generate ten images during the same period without subscribing. However, certain features, such as analysing more than three images per day, still require a paid subscription.
Previously available only to X Premium members for $8 monthly or $84 annually, Grok’s transition to a freemium model brings it in line with AI offerings like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The shift follows recent trials of the free version in countries such as New Zealand.
The freemium move coincides with a significant milestone for Grok’s parent company, xAI, which recently raised $6B, bringing its total funding to $12B. With its updated accessibility, Grok aims to broaden its appeal while remaining competitive in the evolving AI market.
The US government has authorised the export of advanced AI chips to a Microsoft-operated facility in the United Arab Emirates. This approval comes as part of Microsoft’s $1.5 billion partnership with Emirati AI firm G42, where the US tech giant holds a minority stake and a board seat. G42 uses Microsoft’s cloud services to support its AI applications.
Concerns arose over potential risks of US AI technology being transferred to China, prompting scrutiny from lawmakers. They sought clarity on G42’s connections to Chinese authorities before permitting the deal to proceed. The export licence requires strict compliance measures, ensuring restricted access to the UAE facility by individuals or organisations from nations under US arms embargoes, including China.
AI-related national security risks, such as the facilitation of weapons development, remain a key issue for US officials. The Biden administration has implemented regulations requiring major AI developers to share system details with the government. G42 has publicly stated its commitment to aligning with international standards in collaboration with US partners and the UAE government.
Ownership ties also add complexity, with G42 partly owned by Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund and chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s national security advisor. The deal underscores a delicate balancing act as Washington navigates strategic and economic interests in the AI sector.
